Chinese Journalist Sentenced To 7 Years For Meeting Japanese Diplomat, Sparks Concern

A Beijing court sentenced veteran journalist Dong Yuyu to seven years in prison on Friday, convicting him of espionage. Dong, 62, a former editor at the state-run Guangming Daily, was detained by Chinese authorities in February 2022 while meeting a Japanese diplomat in Beijing. His family has condemned the verdict as a grave injustice, asserting that the charges were based on no evidence and criticizing the Chinese justice system.

Dong’s family issued a statement following the verdict, calling the trial a miscarriage of justice not only against Dong but also against every journalist and ordinary Chinese citizen who values free thought and international engagement. They also expressed concern about the court’s mention of the Japanese embassy in Beijing, which was labeled as an “espionage organization.” This implication could lead to a chilling effect on diplomatic relations and the work of foreign diplomats in China, they argued.

The court hearing, held behind closed doors, was heavily guarded by police. Foreign journalists and a US diplomat were barred from attending. Dong has been held in a Beijing prison since a secretive trial in July 2023, according to reports from the US National Press Club.

China’s Foreign Ministry defended the trial, stating that it had been conducted “strictly in accordance with the law.” However, human rights groups and press freedom advocates have called for Dong’s immediate release. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) demanded that the unjust verdict be overturned, urging Chinese authorities to protect the rights of journalists.

Dong, a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University in 2007, has a long history of engaging with international diplomats and advocating for moderate reforms in China. His conviction has drawn widespread condemnation from both foreign governments and human rights organizations.